Key container assembly

ABSTRACT

A key container assembly comprising a key plate having a barrel with laterally spaced openings and slots, key-holding loops with attaching discs received into the slots, the end of the barrel forming a bar normally blocking the entry of the disc of the loop into the opening and hence effectively blocking release of the loop.

United States Patent 1191 Kruger et al. July 30, 1974 KEY CONTAINER ASSEMBLY 3,008,323 ll/l96l Legat 70/456 B [75] lnventorsz- James B. Kruger, Oxford; Gerard T. 3700392 10/1972 Sheath" 70,456 B LePage, Waterbury. oth of Im- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Assignee: Scovi Manufacturing Company, 1,429,351 H1966 France 70/456 8 Waterbury, Conn. Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe [22] Filed June 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dallett Hoopes [21] Appl. No.: 371,307

57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 70/456 B 511 1111. C1 A47g 29/10 A key assembly a P'ate [58] Field of Search 70/456 B 456 R 459- mg a barre laterally Spaced Penmgs and Slots 24/3 key-holding loops with attaching discs received into the slots, the end of the barrel forming a bar normally [56] References Cited blocking the entry of the disc of the loop into the opening and hence effectively blocking release of the UNITED STATES PATENTS loop. 2,606,438 8/1952 Legat 70/456 B,

3/1954 Jones 70/456 B 2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures KEY CONTAINER ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a key container assembly. More specifically, the invention relates to an assembly comprising a key plate of unusually simple structure and a key-holding loop which interfits with the plate permitting a firm attachment which may be readily released.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the prior art, there are many disclosures of key holders generally comprising key plates of stamped sheet metal and key retaining loops. An example is shown in Legat 3,008,323 wherein each loop carries a ball adapted to be pressed in an opening in the key plate against resilient fingers, the loop then being manipulateable so that the ball fits inside the plate with the loop extending out, freely swinging. Such prior art devices have been objectionable because of their use of possible inadvertent detachment. Other holders have involved a plate with an integral barrel bent forwardly from the rear end of the plate and slotted to provide fingers between which a disc or ball on the end of a given key-retaining loop may be made to fit. An objection to the latter type has been that the key-retaining loops have accidentally worked their way out of the key plate. An example is shown in US. Pat. No. 2,348,947

to Zarowin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a key plate having a barrel extending first upward and then rearward away from the planar portion of the plate and curving back to present distal edges normally blocking openings in the barrel through which the key loop is attached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features and objects of the invention will be apparent from a study of the attached disclosure including the drawings presenting a non-limiting embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a key plate embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the plate;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. I;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more specifically to the invention, a key container embodying the invention is generally designated 10 in FIG. 8. It comprises a key plate 12 which is attached by rivets or the like to a plastic wrapper W.

As shown in FIG. 1, the plate 12 comprises a planar base portion 14 of stamped sheet metal, a barrel 16 is integral with the plate, and as shown in FIG. I, is formed with openings 18, preferably circular, at the juncture between the base portion and the barrel. From this juncture, the barrel extends upward rearwardly and then back forwardly, as shown in FIG. 3, to provide a distal edge 20 presenting a bar opposing the opening 18. Preferably, the end of the barrel adjacent the distal edge may be deflected downward for reasons which will appear. From the openings 18, the barrel 16 is slotted in a circumferential manner as at 22 from each opening 18 to define a plurality of fingers 24. From its distal end, each finger is generally bisected for a short distance by another circumferential slot 26 to give the individual fingers the desired resilience.

A plurality of key-holding wire loops 28 are provided. These loops each comprise a question-markshaped wire element having on its longer end a disc 30, the end of the loop being attached to the disc at the center of the disc.

With the structure thus described, the operation will be clear. As shown in FIG. 5, the distal end 20 of the finger normally blocks the openings 18 and is disposed somewhat above the plane of the planar base portion 14. Thus, when it is desired to insert a loop, the disc of the loop 30 is maneuvered through the selected opening 18 and the disc is then pressed against the downtumed end of the barrel urging the adjacent fingers 24 out of the way. The loop may be manipulated thereafter so that the disc 30 is in the central portion of the barrel with the loop 28 extending freely through the selected slot 22.

By virtue of the structure described, it is impossible for the loop to accidentally detach itself from the key plate. Rather, a purposeful effort must be made to press on the fingers 24 with the disc 30 to permit access to the opening 18 by the disc.

I-Iaving described a preferred non-limited embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is not so limited but is susceptible of variations which will fall within the scope of the appended claim language.

We claim:

1. A key container assembly including: a key plate of stamped sheet metal comprising a planar base portion for attachment to a support body and a barrel integral with the base portion, the barrel extending first upward from the contiguous edge of the base portion and then curving rearwardly to a distal edge directed forwardly toward the barrel and disposed closely adjacent the said contiguous edge as a blocking edge and spaced slightly above the plane of the base portion, the base portion and barrel being formed with a series of laterally aligned spaced circular openings at the contiguous edge and slots extending respectively to said distal edge in directions circumferential of the barrel from each of said circular openings to define a plurality of fingers; and a plurality of key-holding wire loops, each being rigidly connected to the center of an attaching disc, the disc being adapted to be extended into any of the openings and to force the adjacent fingers out of the way whereby the loop may be subsequently moved along the slot, the said finger subsequently blocking removal of the loop from the plate.

2. A key container assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the fingers is slotted circumferentially from its distal edge to enhance its flexibility.

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1. A key container assembly including: a key plate of stamped sheet metal comprising a planar base portion for attachment to a support body and a barrel integral with the base portion, the barrel extending first upward from the contiguous edge of the base portion and then curving rearwardly to a distal edge directed forwardly toward the barrel and disposed closely adjacent the said contiguous edge as a blocking edge and spaced slightly above the plane of the base portion, the base portion and barrel being formed with a series of laterally aligned spaced circular openings at the contiguous edge and slots extending respectively to said distal edge in directions circumferential of the barrel from each of said circular openings to define a plurality of fingers; and a plurality of key-holding wire loops, each being rigidly connected to the center of an attaching disc, the disc being adapted to be extended into any of the openings and to force the adjacent fingers out of the way whereby the loop may be subsequently moved along the slot, the said finger subsequently blocking removal of the loop from the plate.
 2. A key container assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the fingers is slotted circumferentially from its distal edge to enhance its flexibility. 